Minister for Forest, B. Ramanatha Rai said that he will oppose T.S.R. Subramanian committee’s report alleging that the report has been prepared keeping in mind the interests of a few people.
The report has recommended the Union government to make amendments to six acts including Indian Forest Act of 1927, Environment Protection Act of 1986, Forest Conservation Act of 1980, Wild Life Protection Act of 1972, Water ( Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981.
After inaugurating a two-day workshop on “Conservation and Developmental Challenges of Western Ghats in the Neoliberal era” here on Saturday, Mr. Ramanath Rai said that the report benefits only a handful of people. Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, T.B. Jayachandra said that the conservation of Western ghats will save the people of dry land districts.
He said that dry-land districts will not have drinking water if the Western Ghats was not protected. He said if the Western Ghats was destroyed the whole country would have to face problems related to water and environment.
Vice-president of Tumakuru Science Centre, C.Yathiraju, called upon the people to “Save Western ghats, save man.”
Speaking to reporters, Ramanath Rai said that the population of wild animals have increased but the forest land has been decreased in the state and hence wild animals including elephants are entering the villages.
He said that the government will take measures to prevent the elephants from entering the villages by digging trenches along the forest boundary and by fencing.
He said the government will spend Rs 212 crore to dig the trenches and put the fencing along the boundary of Bannerghatta National Park in Bengaluru and Nagarahole to prevent elephants from straying into the farmer’s fields.
Apart from Tumakuru, Hassan and Madikeri districts are also facing the elephant problem, he said.
He said that the Zoo Authority of India will not permit to capture the wild animals and to keep them in zoo and hence the animals are not being captured.
